She extended her hand.
“We’re interested.”
That contract became the biggest win of my career.
But that morning, sitting in the back of another taxi on the way back to the house, I didn’t feel victorious.
I felt tired.
Tired in a way sleep could not fix.
My phone had twenty-three missed calls from Tomás.
Seven from Diego.
Two from the insurance company.
One message from my boss that said, “Outstanding work today. Proud of you.”
I stared at that message longer than all the others.
Proud of you.
Three words I had not heard in my own home for years.
When I arrived, my SUV had been moved to the side of the driveway. Tomás was sitting on the front steps. Diego was nowhere in sight.
Tomás stood when he saw me.
His eyes were red.
“Mariana.”
I walked past him toward the door.
“Move.”
He followed me inside.
“Please listen to me.”
I set my laptop bag on the dining table, the same table where I had paid bills at midnight while he slept.
“Say what you need to say.”
He swallowed.
“I’m sorry.”
The words came quickly.
Too quickly.
“I should have told him. I know. I was ashamed. I kept thinking the business would turn around, and then I could fix everything before anyone knew how bad it got.”
I looked at him.
“And during that time, your son called me a gold digger.”
“I know.”
“He told me I lived off your money.”
“I know.”
“He destroyed my car.”
His face twisted.
“I’ll make him apologize.”
That was when I understood he still didn’t get it.
“Tomás, I don’t need an apology performed like a school punishment. I need consequences.”
“He’s nineteen.”
“He’s old enough to drive my car into a wall.”
“He didn’t drive it into a wall.”
“No, he just vandalized it because he thought I was beneath him. That’s not better.”
Tomás looked exhausted.
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